Prison Industry Board

The Prison Industry Board (Board) was established in 1983 to oversee the operations of CALPIA, much like a corporate board of directors. The Board sets general policy for CALPIA, oversees the performance of existing CALPIA industries, determines which new industries shall be established, and appoints and monitors the performance of the General Manager. The Board also serves as a public hearing body, charged both with ensuring that CALPIA enterprises are self-sufficient and that they do not have a substantial adverse effect upon private enterprises. The Board actively solicits public input in to the decisions it makes with regard to expanding existing or developing new prison industries.

The Board is composed of 11 members. The Secretary of CDCR serves as a Member and Chair of the Board. The Governor appoints four members (two to represent organized labor and two to represent industry). The Speaker of the Assembly appoints two members (representing the general public). The Senate Rules Committee appoints two members (representing the general public). The Secretary of Transportation or designee and the Director of General Services or designee also serve on the Board. Members are appointed for four-year terms, serve without compensation, and are reimbursed for necessary expenses. The current members of the Board are as follows.

Scott Kernan

Secretary Kernan served as CDCR Undersecretary for Operations from March to December 2015. He was owner at Kernan Consulting from 2011 to 2015. He served as Undersecretary for Operations at CDCR from 2008 to 2011. He was Chief Deputy Secretary of Adult Operations from 2007 to 2008 and Deputy Director of Adult Institutions from 2006 to 2007.

He served as Warden at California State Prison, Sacramento, from 2004 to 2006 and Warden at Mule Creek State Prison from 2003 to 2004, where he also served as a Chief Deputy Warden from 2001 to 2003 and as a Correctional Administrator from 2000 to 2001.

He served as a Correctional Captain from 1991 to 2000, as a Correctional Lieutenant from 1987 to 1991, an Associate Budget Analyst from 1986 to 1987, a Correctional Sergeant from 1985 to 1986 and a Correctional Officer from 1983 to 1985. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1979 to 1982.

Curtis Kelly

Curtis Kelly is the Senior Business Representative for the Bay Counties District Council of Carpenters. From 1989 to 1993, he served as Financial Secretary for the Carpenters Local 180 in Vallejo. Mr. Kelly is a member of the Napa-Solano Carpenters Boosters Club and Vacaville Youth Services. Mr. Kelly serves as one of the Governor’s labor representatives.

Dawn Davison

Dawn Davison, MS is the former Warden of the California Institution for Women (CIW). She had a 30 year career with the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, with the last 7 years as the Chief Deputy Warden and Warden of CIW. As Warden, she instituted many rehabilitative programs and worked with volunteer groups, emphasizing education, life and workplace skills, the maintenance of family and community relationships, successful reintegration into society, and breaking the intergenerational cycle of incarceration. She also placed herself within the vanguard of reform-minded corrections managers by allowing Just Detention International (JDI) and the Riverside Area Rape Crisis Center to bring counselors into the prison to speak confidentially with sexual abuse survivors. She was also the first to bring community college into the CIW and oversaw the first class of inmates graduating with their Associate of Arts degrees.

Since her retirement in 2009, Dawn has remained involved with the prison population through her work as Treasurer on the JDI Board of Directors. Additionally, she is a member of the Board of Directors for the Time for Change Foundation that assists homeless women and children, and works as a correctional consultant on legal cases.

Dawn received a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Loyola Marymount University in 1978 and a Master of Science degree in Counseling from California State University, Fullerton in 1980.

Michele Steeb

Michele Steeb joined Saint John's Program for Real Change as executive director in 2007. She has served on the Policy Board to End Homelessness for the past four years and is a member of its steering committee. She chaired the Stepping Stone Task Force, and is currently chair of the Permanent Housing Committee of the Policy Board. She is also a member of the Board of the Power Inn Alliance.

Prior to St. John’s, Ms. Steeb ran Public Affairs for the California Chamber of Commerce. She was founder and chief executive officer of two technology-based companies and has run several successful political campaigns.

For both her work at St. John’s and in the community, Michele received the following honors in 2010/2011: Martin Luther King Jr. Difference Maker; Regional Social Equity Leader (Valley Vision); Women Who Mean Business (Sacramento Business Journal); Non Profit Visionary of the Year (Sacramento News & Review); Sacramento Magazine’s People of the Year; and the Sacramento Metro Chamber’s Al Geiger Memorial Award. Ms. Steeb serves as one of the Governor’s industry representatives.

Earl Robert "Bob" Jennings

Earl "Bob" Jennings currently holds the position of the Northern Regional Director for the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California after being appointed in 2013. He served 15 years as the Business Manager and Financial Secretary Treasurer for the United Association of Plumbers, Pipe and Refrigeration Fitters Local Union 246 of Fresno. Mr. Jennings served as the President of the Pipe Trades District Council 36 from 2009 to 2013. He also acted as the secretary-treasurer for 7 years before his run as council President. He served as the Vice President and an active member of the Executive Board of California State Pipe Trades from 2009 to 2013. Jennings was appointed by the past General President of the United Association of Plumbers, Pipe and Refrigeration Fitters (UA) to the HVAC Industry of Northern California Oversight Committee and the UA Safety Committee.

Darshan Singh (Vice Chair)

Darshan Singh is a partner in the Asiatic Trading Company. He is an active participant in his community. He has served as commissioner, vice president and president of the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency and currently serves as commissioner on San Francisco's Community Investment and Infrastructure Commission, successor to the Redevelopment Agency. He has served as the founding Chairman of San Francisco's Parking and Traffic Commission, as a member of the State of California's Economic Development Commission, as a member of the Mayor's Taxi Task Force, as an advisor to the Federation of Indian American Associations, as a member of the Board of Directors of the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce. He has been a vice president, and president of San Francisco's Council of District Merchants Associations, an umbrella organization of 35 district merchants associations. He currently serves on its Board of Directors. He holds a Masters of Science from San Francisco State University and a Bachelor's in Science from the Delhi School of Economics.

Felipe Martin

Felipe Martin is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Martin Brothers Construction. He previously worked as a correctional officer with the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and as a service representative, and computer analyst in the telecommunications industry. He is a member of the Construction Managers Financial Association, Society of American Military Engineers, American Society of Civil Engineers, and United Contractors Association.

Dr. Armond Aghakhanian

Dr. Aghakhanian has over twenty years of experience in the field of business, education & public service; working for and with a myriad of governmental and non-governmental entities. He is currently a member of Burbank Unified School District Board of Education and is the Director of Development and Alumni and Corporate Relations at East Los Angeles College Foundation. Furthermore, he is an Instructor at Glendale Community College and Woodbury University with over a decade of experience teaching courses in business, management, organizational leadership, and government. Previously, he served the people of California as a Senior Consultant for CA State Assembly Speakers Office of Member Services and as a Senior Representative for former CA State Assembly Majority Leader Dario Frommer. He is the 2010 recipient of President Obama's "President's Volunteer Service" Award, 2003 "Glendale Character & Ethics Award," Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry "Volunteer of the Year Award," LA Coalition to End Hunger & Homelessness "Volunteer Award" YMCA "Service Award," and numerous certificates of recognition from city, state and federal offices and elected officials. Dr. Aghakhanian received his bachelor’s degree in Political Science from California State University Northridge, Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Woodbury University, and a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership from Pepperdine University.

Mack Jenkins

Mack Jenkins currently serves on the Council on Mentally Ill Offenders as well as the Prison Industry Board. Mr. Jenkins previously served as chief probation officer at the San Diego County Probation Department from 2007 to 2015. He served in several positions at the Orange County Probation Department from 1977 to 2007, including division director, assistant director, supervisor and deputy probation counselor.

Mr. Jenkins was an adjunct instructor of criminal justice at the Rancho Santiago Community College District from 1992 to 2007. He is a member of the National Association of Drug Court Professionals Board of Directors and the Judicial Council’s Task Force for Criminal Justice Collaboration on Mental Health Issues. He earned a Master of Science degree in criminal justice from California State University, Long Beach.

Jeff McGuire

Jeff McGuire serves as the designee of the Director of the Department of General Services to the Prison Industry Board. Mr. McGuire is currently the Chief Deputy Director at the Department of General Services.

Previously, Mr. McGuire was the Deputy Director at the Board of Equalization responsible for administration of California’s Sales and Use Tax Program. Mr. McGuire has over 32 years of public service primarily in the area of tax policy and tax program administration. Mr. McGuire currently serves on several other State boards and previously served as chair of the California Fed-State Partnership and as California’s representative on the Border States Caucus. Mr. McGuire holds a bachelor’s degree in professional accounting from California State University, Long Beach. He completed the Leadership for Government Executives program at California State University, Sacramento and holds a certification in Organizational Change Management.

William Davidson

William (Bill) Davidson serves as the designee of the Secretary of the California State Transportation Agency. Mr. Davidson is currently the Deputy Director, Field Operations Division at the Department of Motor Vehicles. Previously, Mr. Davidson was the Deputy Secretary of Administration and Finance, and was responsible for all fiscal policy and personal matters with regard to the agency, as well as all departments and programs under its jurisdiction. He also served for three years as the Chief Budget Officer at the California Department of Motor Vehicles and has over 16 years of experience managing and directing state administrative and fiscal matters.